RuneStorm :: View topic - Computer Questions

1. What could have caused each of the problems?
2. If it's my processor, what could've killed it?
3. If I need a new processor, what should I get? Right now I only have an AMD Athlon 64 +3200 Processor at around 1.79 Ghz (which leads me to believe my processor caused all this). I need something affordable but efficient, and over 2.8 Ghz.

Since both copies are on the same macine, that would be legal, right?

If the Kapn solution doesn't work, I would re-install Windows and see how the computer react !

If those problems are still there, I would guess it can comes from the RAM.

RAM is quite impredictable when there's a problem to it, it's just random !
I don't think it comes from the processor.

If it's the RAM (and have more than one piece of it) you can try removing them and switching to see which one is defective (if not all).

Your hard drive isnt meant for constant access and as a result it can create "bad sectors".

You could also overheat something if your machine isn't properly ventilated. That's how I lost my first laptop.

I am busy fighting with a local PC shop, because I have a 1Gb DDR2 ram module that is faulty, but they say it isn't, but what they don't understand is that it is only under load that problems occur, so they just put it in a pc, test it for half-an hour not really doing anything, then say it's fine

Guess were I won't be buying again...which is sad because they are 1 of only 2 decent pc shops near where I live...

Very true. If the airflow inside the pc box is not correct (i.e. you have "dead air" in some key places of the box), it can cause INTERESTING problems, especialy if the area around the ram is getting hot (warm is normal).

Lol, I like the way you see things Cyberax

Author:	KylinRage [ Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
I've done System Recovery twice in a week, and that scares me. I rarely have to do it, so this is pretty new to me. The first time, for some reason, the computer took forever to load, and always froze when trying to. Second time, I was on Mozilla when all of a sudden the screen blackened (The monitor is still on, not standby), and the keyboard, along with the mouse, were frozen. After that it took an eternity on the Windows XP screen and it eventually freezes the computer. That's two PC Recoveries there, and I'm just not willing to touch anything besides the internet. So here are my questions: 1. What could have caused each of the problems? 2. If it's my processor, what could've killed it? 3. If I need a new processor, what should I get? Right now I only have an AMD Athlon 64 +3200 Processor at around 1.79 Ghz (which leads me to believe my processor caused all this). I need something affordable but efficient, and over 2.8 Ghz. I tried searching for all of these things but none of them resembled the issues I had, or at least I couldn't find them.

Author:	cyberax [ Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
KylinRage wrote: 1. What could have caused each of the problems? 2. If it's my processor, what could've killed it? 3. If I need a new processor, what should I get? Right now I only have an AMD Athlon 64 +3200 Processor at around 1.79 Ghz (which leads me to believe my processor caused all this). I need something affordable but efficient, and over 2.8 Ghz. Errors like these have 2 main causes. - It could be one or more hardware devices are giving trouble. RAM causes a lot of these ... - Something in your windows could be corrupt (normaly the registry). Windows is famous for crashing, and it is 8 times out of 10 caused by unstable hardware.

Author:	DK [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:53 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Yep... I had a lot of BSoD's when one of my RAM card and PCI slots died on me for no apparent reason. Now I run my XP on minimal hardware (no internal modem, only one DDR RAM), the only thing I'm waiting for now is for my HDD to commit a head-crash. That's the time I need a major PC overhaul.

Author:	Tha Kapn [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:46 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
First delete all of your temp files, defragment your hard drive, then use "checkdisk" to repair any corrupt system files. (Go to "My Computer", right click your C: drive, choose "properties" then tools. Checkdisk should be the first option there) If that doesnt work I have some tools that will fix it. Also, if its a dying hard drive you can test it with this: http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/suppor ... s/seatools Burn it to a CD, boot from it, and let the test run. Choose "full test" btw. Should take about an hour or two.

Author:	Souls Stream [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:02 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
If the Kapn solution doesn't work, I would re-install Windows and see how the computer react ! If those problems are still there, I would guess it can comes from the RAM. RAM is quite impredictable when there's a problem to it, it's just random ! I don't think it comes from the processor. If it's the RAM (and have more than one piece of it) you can try removing them and switching to see which one is defective (if not all).

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Author:	Tyster [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:32 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Or, better yrt, install a 2nd copy of windows, if you have an extra partition to spare. Since both copies are on the same macine, that would be legal, right?

Author:	cyberax [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:59 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Tyster wrote: Since both copies are on the same macine, that would be legal, right? Nope, you need a license for each installation.... go figure! .... Although I suppose you could get a lawyer to argue it...but have you ever read that EULA .... painful... Souls Stream wrote: If the Kapn solution doesn't work, I would re-install Windows and see how the computer react ! If those problems are still there, I would guess it can comes from the RAM. RAM is quite impredictable when there's a problem to it, it's just random ! I don't think it comes from the processor. If it's the RAM (and have more than one piece of it) you can try removing them and switching to see which one is defective (if not all). Very good suggestion... (make sure you have a backup of your documents etc.) If you are feeling brave, you can also do a repair...if you boot from the cd, select install on the first screen, then it asks you which partition, then asks if you want to repair or install fresh copy if it finds windows (make sure you are using the same edition disk as installed, otherwise that does not work!). This keeps all your installed software, but replaces all the windows files, although it keeps some user settings.

Author:	Tha Kapn [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Before you do anything drastic like that, I'd suggest you look at your motherboard and video card. On them there are capacitors and they might be blown. They SHOULD be flat on the top. If they are in any way "domed" you've got a blown cap. They would look like this:

Author:	Souls Stream [ Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Well, it's already an advanced suggestion ! I doubt the capacitors are malfunctioning or blown though it's possible. Let's start with reinstalling windows, it's maybe simpler than the RAM and Capacitors thing for someone who don't know those that well

Author:	KylinRage [ Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
By the way, I have a question: Can using a 1.79 or 1.99 Ghz AMD Athlon 64 +3200 Processor on a game that requires, let's say, 2.4 Ghz cause some of the problems above?

Author:	Bjossi [ Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Nope, the worst that could happen is in-game lag. And when a game demands a fixed 2.4 Ghz clock frequency, it is most likely referring to Intel's CPUs, not AMD.

Author:	KylinRage [ Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
That means I can go ahead and play those stuff without worrying that it will cause devastating problems? WOOHOO!

Author:	Bjossi [ Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Unless you consider lag a devastating problem, you'll be fine. I'm puzzled why you'd think slow clock frequency would cause bad problems, seen from a mathematical point of view, it would cause just as big of a problem in the other direction; if the frequency was too fast. Anyway, don't worry about it.

Author:	Souls Stream [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:33 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
I'm playing C&C 3 with a computer who doesn't meet the requirements and I have no problems Not as beautiful as the screenshots you can see everywhere though ! There's no problems at all, that's why on games you usually see a minimum requirement and optimum requirements. But those "requirements" are not scientificaly based, they are just what the testers tried most of the time.

Author:	KylinRage [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
I have a speaker weird phenomenon thing in ProStreet. Doesn't bother me much, but it would be neat to get rid of it. Sometimes, when my car is slowing down for a turn, my speakers would make a static-y "Bang" sound twice, and the volume varies. It doesn't seem to cause any problems at all, but it freaks me out. I totaled once because of it . And OC, please don't comment on how much ProStreet sucks. We've been through that, and I don't want to go through it again .

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Author:	Bjossi [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Any sound related problems are often connected to the audio hardware & drivers in one way or another. Updating drivers and/or getting better audio card are good solutions.

Author:	Souls Stream [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:25 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Audio drivers are hard to find though They aren't updated as oftenly as video card drivers, well, it depends the manufacturer.

Author:	Bjossi [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:30 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Yeah, even big names like Creative have product support that gives them no reason to be proud.

Author:	Souls Stream [ Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:37 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
I thought Creative would have at least done some drivers I'm disapointed !

Author:	Bjossi [ Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:37 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
They do have drivers released: Decent ones for XP but the Vista support, well, is not as good.

Author:	Tha Kapn [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:50 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
The only way you can cause hardware failure from playing a game is when you dont have the "minimum" amount of ram. In that case your PC allocates some space on your hard drive and attempts to use it as ram. Your hard drive isnt meant for constant access and as a result it can create "bad sectors". Basically: You use an old PC to play new games, it lags and you hear your hard drive getting noisy (scratchy clicking sounds). Then a month or so down the road your hard drive craps out.

Author:	Kaboodles [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:39 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
You could also overheat something if your machine isn't properly ventilated. That's how I lost my first laptop. The replacement was much better, so I didn't feel too sorry about it.

Author:	cyberax [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:05 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Tha Kapn wrote: Your hard drive isnt meant for constant access and as a result it can create "bad sectors". huh? maybe for older drives, but decent drives these days are quite fine. But a hard drive is a VERY mechnical based device, thus failure rate is higher than some other parts. Kaboodles wrote: You could also overheat something if your machine isn't properly ventilated. That's how I lost my first laptop. Very true. If the airflow inside the pc box is not correct (i.e. you have "dead air" in some key places of the box), it can cause interesting problems, especialy if the area around the ram is getting hot (warm is normal). But this can easily be seen by the PC never giving trouble for a short time after it has started from cold (i.e. off for quite a long time), and then after a while starting with its troubles... BUT, "strange" things do happen. I am busy fighting with a local PC shop, because I have a 1Gb DDR2 ram module that is faulty, but they say it isn't, but what they don't understand is that it is only under load that problems occur, so they just put it in a pc, test it for half-an hour not really doing anything, then say it's fine Guess were I won't be buying again...which is sad because they are 1 of only 2 decent pc shops near where I live...

Author:	zer0 [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:29 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
cyberax wrote: I am busy fighting with a local PC shop, because I have a 1Gb DDR2 ram module that is faulty, but they say it isn't, but what they don't understand is that it is only under load that problems occur, so they just put it in a pc, test it for half-an hour not really doing anything, then say it's fine Guess were I won't be buying again...which is sad because they are 1 of only 2 decent pc shops near where I live... You know what you should do... get in there and give them one of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIeWfpTC ... re=related

Author:	Souls Stream [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:24 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Cyberax wrote : Quote: Very true. If the airflow inside the pc box is not correct (i.e. you have "dead air" in some key places of the box), it can cause INTERESTING problems, especialy if the area around the ram is getting hot (warm is normal). Lol, I like the way you see things Cyberax

Author:	cyberax [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:37 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Souls Stream wrote: Lol, I like the way you see things Cyberax lol...after 15 years of PC's things are not problems, they are interesting quirks and side effects Especialy when you haven't been dealing directly with the hardware side for a while, cause then you have to think about it for a while when such problems arise

Author:	Souls Stream [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:03 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Oooh yes, I know that actually But though, I wouldn't have used the word "interesting" lol When a computer problem arise, first I get really mad ! Insulting the computer, and so on... Then I try to calm down and think rationaly to what have caused that crash, ... Finally I resolve the problem (most of the time) if I can't, the computer learns to fly through the window ! Lol, not seriously, one day I got so mad at my computer that first I looked really calm, calmy, I unplugged my keyboard, I took it a bit away from my computer... Then I exploded on it and threw it on the ground, jumped on it, and so on, ... 'til it was completely destroyed. Then I was calm again, I went out to buy a new keyboard... After I came back, I was calmed, after some days I found the cause of the problem and I fixed it. That's the first and only time I got berserk against my comp. Now I laugh about it

Author:	Bjossi [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:56 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Wow, I consider myself a hothead, but destroying hardware is something I would never do.

Author:	Souls Stream [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:32 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Yes, but ... eeeh ... That computer was looking for it !!!!

Author:	Bjossi [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:45 am ]
Post subject:	Computer Questions
Anyone who gets this angry at a piece of machinery needs anger management sessions.